Time is right to let young vote in Euro elections
Issued : Thursday 22 March, 2007
Statement by Joe Costello TD
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development
This Sunday, 25th March 2007, marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the European Union. Jean Monnet's simple motto was "To persuade men (and women) to work together to show them that beyond their differences of opinion and, despite whatever frontiers divide them, they have a common interest."
The EU has provided Ireland with enormous benefits in terms of infrastructure, agriculture, training, education and equality since we joined in 1972. Now 50 years on the EU is comprised of 27 countries and 450 million people.
The European and Local Elections take place at the same time every five years. The next elections are due in 2009. Citizens of all 27 countries are entitled to vote in both European and Local Election whether they are living in their own country or in any of the other 26 countries. They are not entitled to vote in General Elections in an EU host country.
At present the voting age for all elections in Ireland and for all countries in the European Union except the Netherlands is 18. In the Netherlands it is 16 for all elections. The Labour Party has published a new Bill to reduce the voting age in Ireland for elections to the European Parliament and for Local Elections to 16. We have requested leave to present the European Parliament and Local Elections (Voting at 16) Bill 2007 to the Dail.
The Labour Party believes that the time is now right to reduce the voting age for European and Local Elections. We have identified 10 main reasons to do so:
1. At present there is limited awareness of the workings of the EU amongst the electorate and few EU member states have structures in place to keep their citizens informed and engaged. It is essential that new lines of communication be opened to ensure that citizens are well briefed on EU issues and that they can participate fully in the European project.
2. Young Irish people are maturing much earlier now than they were 50 years ago
3. Most young people are now in full time education at the age of 16 whereas most had left school at the age of 16 fifty years ago
4. Civil, Social and Political Education is now an examination subject for the Junior Certificate in all second level schools. It is an ideal subject for grounding young people in the elements of democracy and citizenship.
5. A Transition Year is the norm in Second Level schools in the year following the Junior Certificate. This year is deliberately structured to ensure that young 15/16 year old students can engage in studies and projects which are not part of the academic examination system. This is an ideal opportunity for young people to become acquainted with the role of the European Union and the role of Local Government and their relevance to their lives.
6. The franchise at 16 has another advantage. At 18 young people are facing their Leaving Certificate examination and are about to leave second level school for third level education or the workplace. They are under severe pressure and have little time or incentive to concentrate on issues such as voting.
7. A number of countries have reduced the voting age to 17 such as East Timor and Indonesia. Others such as Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, the Isle of Man and the Netherlands have reduced the voting age to 16.
8. Many Youth Organisations support the lowering of the voting age to 16. In Britain there is a wide spread campaign to change to voting age to 16.
9. There are many issues affecting young people that need to be articulated. Who better to do so than young voters of 16 and 17?
10. Young people are constantly voting and enjoy voting in reality TV programmes, such as Big Brother, the X Factor and You're a Star. However, they are unable to vote on the real issues that effect their lives.
The right to vote is a precious right campaigned for by disenfranchised groups and people over the centuries. The Labour Party believes that the European Union should be leading the way in the promotion of democracy and in ensuring that young people are fully involved at the earliest possible stage in exercising the franchise. Consequently we are publishing this Bill today.
